Steering wheel



Jan, 22 1924.

c. W. BECK STEERING WHEEL 2 sheets-.sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1925 Jan., 22, 1924.

C. W. BECK STEERING WHEEL Filed Jan. 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 L MQMMMM.

i avoid bringing Patented .dano llfgl@ llldllllll@ STATES erreur @"MRLES Wl BECK, @E DETROT, MICHXGAN.

STERREN@ WML.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES W. BECK, a citizen of the United States of America, residin at Detroit, in the county ot Wayne and tate et Michigan, have invented certain nevv and usetul lrnprovements in Steering Wheels, ot which the following is a speciication, reerence being had therein to the accompanying drawingsa This invention relates to Wheels and refers more particularly to the manuiacture ot steering *Wheels designed tor use on motor vehicles An object ot the invention is to provide a construction in which the hands of the opcrater will not come in contact with any rnetallic surface, this being particularly desirable when driving in cold weather.,

Another object is to provide a strong and durable Wheel ot the built-up type which is simple in construction and which may be manufactured at a very lovv cost.

l/ll'ith the above and other obiects in vievv7 the invention consists in certain novel teatures ot construction, combination and arrangement oit parts as vvill be more tully described and particularly pointed out 'in the appended claires.l

y; iin the accompanying drawings; lili, re l is a top plan vievv et a vvheel en H bodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional vievv talen on @fm2 oit lFigline l;

Figure 3 is a sections-i viev taken through a slightly inodined construction;

Figure is a detail sectional vievv oli a slightly rnodiiied construction; l

Figure is a top plan vievv ot a slightly modi-tied oi? construction.;

Tligure ti is a sectional vievv talten on line @me ci Figure n the present state et the art it is usual construct rirns et steering vr `ieels out Wood or metal, and it is also usual to mount the riin upon a metallic spider which connects it with the hub mounted on the steering stein. steering *with the 'Wheel it is diticult the hands in contact with the spider arms and the chilled surface ot metal is uncomfortable. Furthermore, the edges of the spider arms are usually thin and do not for-rn as comtortable bearing tor the hand to grasp.

To overcome the objections referred to above, l have provided a comparatively light wheel in which the metallic spider arms are entirely encased in coverings termed from plastic material and support a rim which is also formed from plastic material. The arrangement is such that the outer ends of the coverings merge into the rim and form an' ses@v and comfortable bearing for the hand. i eterring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates a rirn sup-- ported upon a metallic spider 2 which includes a hub 3 anda plurality ot radially extending arrns 1l. The hub is preferably a die casting and isprovided with a plurality ot radially extending upwardly inclined projections 5. Each projection is provided with a longitudinally extending socket 6 which is adapted to receive the inner end of an arm li. rllhe arms are preferably steel stampings and are of suicient thickness to lit tightly Within the sockets 6. Each arm l is provided with a series of spaced openings 7 which are adapted to receive the plastic material ot the coverings 8 and 'llhe coverings 8 for the arms also surroundr the projections 5 andare dared at their inner'ends as shown at 9 so as to registervvith heblovver edge of a beveled portion l0 ot the u 'lhe rim and coverings lare secured to the arms and projections in a single operation by providing a suitable mold or vulcanizing apparatus (not shown) in vvhich the arrns and projections are secured and -in which the proper amount ot plastic material is placed. The mold is subjected to the roper degree o'l' heat and pressure so as to so idity or harden the run and coverings.

During the hardening process the plastic material will be forced through the openings 7 in the arms and will securely bind the rino and arms together, as vvell as secure a tir-ru engagement betvveen the coverings and arms. The plastic material of the coverings 8 is also forced through openings ll and 12 in the projections as well as the openings Z at the inner ends of the arms and vvillthereieore securely bind the arms to the hub.

The rim l and coverings 8 may be constructed ci any suitable material., but pret erably., are formed of a rubber composition in which the base is rubber and the fillers either sulphur, asphalturn7 bitumen, cold tan itch, linie, litharge or zinc oxide. Any other suitable ingredients may be employed tor coloring pinp'eses.` Y

the rim l.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, a hollow rim 13 is employed in the construction of the steering wheel. This rim may be formed of any suitable material and may be constructed in any desired manner,I As shown the rim 13 is composed of segments 14 which are connected at their meeting ends by means of filler members 15 to -which the spider arms 16 are attached.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a modifieation of the construction shown in Figures l to 3 inclusive and have disclosed a construction in which the arms as well as the rim are formed from a suitable plastic material. A hub 20 preferably provided with a series of spaced annular ribs 21, is employed in the construction of the wheel and is secured to the arms 22, preferably in a single operation, by providing a suitable mold or vulcanizing apparatus (not shown) in which the hub 20 is secured and in which the proper amount of plastic materialis placed. The mold is subjected to the proper egree of heat and pressure so as to solidify or harden the arms and rim. During the hardening process the plastic material will be forced around the hub and between the annular ribs 21 andwill secure a permanent and rigid-connection between the arms-and hub.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wheel, the' combination with a hub, of projections upon said hub, arms secured to said projections, a rim carried by said arms, and coverings molded upon said arms and projections. f

2. In a steering wheel, the combination with a hub, of projections upon said hub, said projections having sockets formed therein, arms engaging said sockets, a rim carried by said arms, and coverings molded upon said arms and projections.

3. In a steering wheel, the combination with a hub, of projections upon said hub, arms secured to said projections, said projections and arms having openings therein, a rim cast upon said arms and having p0rtions engaging certain of the openings in said arms, and coverings molded upon said arms and projections and having portions engaging the openings in said projections and certain of the openings in said arms.

4. In a steering wheel, the combination with a hub, projections upon said hub, a plurality of radially extending members enganing said projections, and means for concea ing said projections, said means having a part thereof connecting said members to said projections.

5. In a wheel, a hub, projections on said hub, radially extending members engaging the projections, and means formed from plastic material for covering said members and securing the same to said projections.

6. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a plurality of arms formed from plastic material, and relatively short projections with respect to said arms on said hub extending into said arms. t

7. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a plurality of arms, and relatively short projections with respect to said arms onsaid hub extending into said arms.

8. In a Wheel, the combination with a hub and a rim, of a plurality of arms formed from plastic material extending between said hub and rim, and projections on said hub extending into said arms.

9. In a steering Wheel, a hub, projections extending radially from said hub, said projections having sockets, arms fitting said sockets, and means formed from plastic material for covering the joints between said arms and projections and securing said arms and projections together.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CHARLES W. BECK. 

